README for the UVIKON software
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This file contains the following sections:
- Overview
- Packing list
- Installation
- Operation for the impatient

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Overview

UVIKON is a 16bit MS-Windows software designed to connect a personal computer to a Kontron Uvikon 860 spectrophotometer. It extends the capabilities of the photometer by an unlimited number of saved methods which can be loaded into the instrument at any later session. All data can be retrieved during measurement and saved to disk. It is also possible to retrieve the data of saved scans.


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Packing list

The UVIKON distribution contains the following files:
README.TXT: The file that you are reading now.
HISTORY.TXT: The version history
UVIKON.EXE: The executable
UVIKON.HLP: The help file


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Installation

UVIKON.EXE is a 16-bit Windows software which runs on Windows 3.1/3.11 boxes as well as on Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. If you use Windows 3.1/3.11, any 80386 or higher computer with at least 4MB memory and 40MB harddisk is sufficient to run the software. With the other operating systems usually 8-12MB memory and >100MB harddisk are required.

Create a new subdirectory in your programs directory, e.g. C:\PROGS\UVIKON. Copy the files UVIKON.EXE and UVIKON.HLP into this directory. To create a program manager icon in Windows 3.1/3.11 or Windows NT 3.5/3.51, select an appropriate group and choose File->New from the program manager group. Select "New Program" in the dialog box and provide the path to the executable, e.g. C:\PROGS\UVIKON\UVIKON.EXE, in the next dialog box. To create a link on a Windows 95/98 or Windows NT 4 box, simply right-drag UVIKON.EXE to the desktop or an appropriate folder in the start menu subfolder.

The software can then be started by double-clicking the icon in the program manager or the start menu or the desktop. 

To connect the hardware via a serial cable, follow the instructions of the UVIKON 860 manual.

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Operation for the impatient

Start the software and press the green "Run" button. Select a method from the methods menu. Enter all necessary parameters. The method may now be saved to disk using the "Save method" button in the dialog box. After pressing "OK", the data are sent to the photometer. To autozero the instrument, put two identical samples (water, buffer) into the photometer. In the case of lambda fix or time courses, pressing the white cuvette button will cause the instrument to autozero. In the case of lambda scan, a baseline will be recorded by pressing this button. Then replace the contents of the cuvette in the sample beam with your real sample and press the red cuvette button to run your sample. Depending on the settings you may be asked to provide a name for the sample or the measurement. This name can later be changed anytime. Several measurements can be placed into a single file. Consecutive lambda fix measurements are put into a single field. Save the file and disconnect from the photometer.

In-depth instructions can be found in the help file. You can see a list of topics or you can search the help file from the UVIKON Help menu.

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Markus Hoenicka (C) 1997-1999
email: hoenicka_markus@compuserve.com
web:   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hoenicka_markus/
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